There are few moments that capture Shaquille O’Neal’s sheer dominance better than his iconic move against David Robinson, a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest defensive centers in NBA history.
In that play, Shaq backed Robinson down with brute strength, spun with stunning quickness, and detonated a dunk so violent it sent Robinson crashing to the floor and left the entire rim setup shaking.
It wasn’t just a highlight. It was a statement. And that statement still echoes today: nobody, and I mean nobody, in today’s NBA could guard prime Shaq.
It starts with the footwork. For all the talk about his size and power, people forget how nimble Shaq was. At over 300 pounds, he moved like a ballerina in the paint. Against Robinson, a Defensive Player of the Year, he used subtle positioning, balance, and a fluid spin to create space before unleashing a thunderous finish that rattled the arena.
If that’s what he did to a top-five defender of all time, what chance do modern centers have?
Let’s run the list.
Joel Embiid? He’d get 50 dropped on his head. For all of Embiid’s skill and strength, his upright defensive posture and tendency to settle for contests wouldn’t hold up when Shaq lowered that shoulder and sealed deep.
Anthony Davis? His length and agility are elite, but Shaq would put him under the basket in seconds. Davis doesn’t have the lower-body strength to stop a freight train with feet like Fred Astaire.
Victor Wembanyama? A unicorn, yes. A defensive prodigy, no doubt. But his frame would fold like paper under Shaq’s mass. Wemby’s lack of core strength and base makes him a mismatch nightmare against someone that powerful.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Bam Adebayo, Domantas Sabonis, Kristaps Porzingis, Ivica Zubac, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alperen Sengun, Rudy Gobert, Jarrett Allen, Myles Turner — it wouldn’t matter.
One by one, they’d get cooked. Shaq’s combination of force and footwork would overwhelm everyone of them. Whether it’s finesse in the post, a shoulder drop, a spin, or just raw power, none of these modern bigs have the tools to stop him.
Nikola Jokic? Maybe. His strength and intelligence give him a fighting chance. But even Jokic would concede 40 points trying to deal with that force. The best he could hope for is trading buckets, and that’s being generous.
Sure, on the defensive end, Shaq might face challenges. Today’s spacing, pick-and-roll frequency, and three-point shooting centers would pull him away from the paint. He’d struggle to close out on shooters or defend the perimeter.
But none of that would matter when he’s giving you 38 and 15 with 75% efficiency. You could exploit Shaq defensively, but you couldn’t survive him offensively.
In truth, there has never been, and likely never will be, a player like Shaquille O’Neal — a once-in-a-generation blend of mass, mobility, and mentality. In any era, he was a problem.
In today’s game? With no real post defenders left, and centers prioritizing finesse over force?
Shaq would be unstoppable.
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